Underrated and under-recorded, Mike Pope is a true underground bass force, with his considerable musical abilities matched by his gift for designing highend bass preamps and related electronics. Pope’s first solo effort in a decade marks a triumphant return that finds his composing, arranging, upright, and 6-string skills in peak form. Accompanied by Gotham A-list jazzers Joe Locke on vibes, saxophonist Seamus Blake, and keyboardist Geoffrey Keezer, Pope drives the opening, title track samba, capping matters with a probing solo. Other standout moments on upright include the swung funk groove of the Steps Ahead-ish “Shadow of Doubt,” a reflective solo on the pensive ballad “What I Meant to Say,” and a nimble melody reading of 19th-century Russian composer Reinhold Gliére’s “Romance.” Pope’s 6-string first rumbles in on the free-form jam “Out of the Ether” before taking the lead on a bossa-fied rendering of Chopin’s “Prelude In E Min Op. 28 No. 4” and issuing a searing solo on the funky, Rhodes-infused “Ral and Tonto.” Locke’s memorable acoustic waltz, “Dear Life,” caps this satisfying set.

Having made three recordings and played countless concerts with Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Phillips, gifted piano goddess Hiromi set out to capture the super-trio’s live spontaneity and vivacity on her latest studio effort.

Following several years of gigs (and a CD) in the guitar trio format, fretless master Mark Egan turns to a piano trio lineup (featuring Mitchel Forman and drummer Danny Gottlieb) with exceptional results.